Big River August 19 2007-08-20
by Paul Smith
The story of this ride for me starts back in June when I went to WA for work. I was feeling really tired and run down and probably should not have gone. I got progressively worse over my first week in WA until I had to see a Doctor. This revealed that I had the flu with infected throat and sinuses. Even with after 4 rounds antibiotics (and a lot of TLC - thanks Mum) I was just starting to come good. Just as I was starting to feel human again Wade rang me and said that he wanted to put on a ride at Big River. I thought to myself – I hope I am well enough to go on that one as there are some great tracks at Big River.
Fast forward another month (with two weeks to go before the Big River ride) and Wade rings me giving me some story about a handbag sale he has to go to on that date and could I lead the ride for him. Being the all round nice guy that I am I tell him no worries.
I got busy digging out all the maps and rattling my brain trying to remember some of the tracks in the area. I even made my own map linking up the best tracks that I could find on the map (Rooftops Big River / Rubicon Map). I figured that if all went well that we’d be able to get to Woods Point and back.
So with all of this in mind I set off Sunday morning to pick up Nathan and meet up with Charles and Luke at the BP at Lilydale at 7.15 sharp. And what do you know, I pulled in at 7.13am and there they were ready to roll. It took an hour and 20 minutes to get to the Big River campsite (including one u-turn thanks to my backseat driver!) and we were quite surprised to see a very busy car park.
Just when I was thinking “Damn these Hondas are popular” the reason for that thought came into view. There was a Honda club ride leaving from the same car park. The more the merrier – I just crossed my fingers and hoped that we would not run into them (literally) coming in the opposite direction.
There was a guy wandering around the car park who had missed his group. He asked if he could tag along with us. We said sure so he did. There was another familiar face that made me do a big double take it was Anthony Thomas, and more to the point he was riding after his horror crash at the the start of the year - albeit on a pushbike.
With the first five km in my head we headed off. Unfortunately nobody liked the look of the first hill out of the quarry. It was all rock (a horridly slippery quartz with no dirt) and the dew had left sufficient slime on the rock to make it too hard for a first up challenge.
Discretion taking the better part of valour we beat a hasty retreat to join up with that track just a little further down the road. While getting there I noticed that one corner in particular had some damn fine curves
Half way round the corner I wound the 650 up just a bit too much and had the distinct privilege of re-examining the corner from a lower angle (ground view). As I was counting my lucky stars I lifted the bike and put it on the stand adjusted my armour and went to get going. Bugger busted the gear lever. The rest of the fellas caught up and suggested we head back to the cars to get it sorted if we could.
We managed (in true AMTRA fashion) to use hose clamps and cable ties to hold a spare Yamaha gear lever onto the stem of a Husaberg gear lever. And I rode the rest of the day (100 or so Km) like that with only one adjustment.
That sorted we found some really slimy narrow track and linked it up until we got to the bridge on the Big River-Eildon Road. We crossed the bridge and headed up Gum Top Ridge. Not too much road before we took a left and headed up yet again more narrow track. At the top of this section we were back on Gum Top Road and this seemed a very popular spot for a break, chinwag and a snake.
A little further on we waited and waited and waited. We found out that Rob had caught a stick in a radiator hose and was performing yet more bush surgery. He decided that it would be best to head back to the cars to he took his mate and my spare map and headed back.
Luke made an effort to get me from my good side.
We noted how the the DSE had seen fit to turn what was some nice narrow track into what can only be described as a 30m wide fire break. It seem that that they were not intent with just destroying the interesting riding but even blocking off the dirt they had left. At one stage we had to drop off the fire break though the bush and back onto the main road. Luke found the track and again tried to get a photo of my good side.
We headed down Reefton Logging Road then took the sneaky right down a very overgrown track with a few logs just to make it interesting. We got to Vennells and crossed the river then headed right up the road for a couple of Km then took a left up the track that links Big River Rd to Monument Tk this once great track has logs every 10 m or so making it barely if at all passable. We decided that it was not passable and did a u-turn after the second bike boiled. We took Frenchmans Creek Tk up to the junction of Monument track. There is a short cut up monument track and a few of us had a go with only Rod and myself getting out of sight of the rest of the group.
One of these guys had brand new tyres on and was heard to say that he was not having a go because two strokes are crap at climbing hills. I guess if you say it enough times you can convince yourself. Just don't try and convince me.
After mucking about here we decided that we better head back to the cars and skip Woods Point because it would be dark by the time we got back if we went there. Not wishing to take the golden headlight award from Peter Ross for a midnight return I heeded the advice and we headed back. We did Shortcut Number 2 and the track between Frenchmans Spur and Snowy Road. When we got to the bottom of that track I had to stop and tighten (put ten more cable ties on) my gear lever and change a flat.
On the way back we did a narrow track that went between Snowy Rd and Warburton Woods Point Rd. It started well but then got worse and worse with logs and branches everywhere. I barged my way though the undergrowth and when I got to the top it was quite a wait until I heard other bikes come though. I heard a lot of very agitated yells of frustration and despair.
When we got up to the road we headed past the stunning Big River lookout then headed with Fireline number 2 and back to big river camp. We had a great workout and did some good riding.
Note: If anyone out there has a posty bike or similar and wants to spend a day clearing tracks call me. I have a bike and a saw and am keen to fix some of the tracks out at Big River - I just can't go alone for safety reasons.
Present were.
Paul S(Ride Leader / Scribe)
Nathan B
Luke F
Charles S
Rob C
Peter L
Steve S
Stuart C (Tail)
Rod (the ring in)
